Dave Challinor offers support to Hartlepool United staff - and has this message for fans

The Pools boss says these ‘unprecedented times have brought real uncertainty’ but believes the club will come through it thanks to the ‘never say die’ spirit and mentality of staff, fans and the town.

Last week chief executive Mark Maguire confirmed that several staff have been placed on notice while others have been furloughed. This comes after the club asked all playing staff to take a 20 per cent cut on their March wages.

It’s these changes which Maguire hopes will ensure Pools come out the other side of this difficult period as a ‘competitive force’.

Challinor said: “These unprecedented times have brought real uncertainty around the football club and some decisive decisions have had to be made.

“These decisions have been made public regarding the furlough of staff, threat of redundancy and in some instances people losing their jobs.

“There are great people working so hard throughout this club but It’s a really concerning time for everyone but at the end of this all the football club is the most important factor and we have to come out the other side.

“The positive for me as a newcomer to the club is that in the short time I’ve been here, I’ve seen what it means to people, I’ve seen the power of our fans and what it means to the community and the people of the town.

“The club has been in worse situations than this and has come through with that ‘never say die’ spirit and mentality and that’s what will happen again.

“Stay safe, take care and hopefully everyone can be reunited very soon,” he wrote in his column for the club website.

Striker Luke James added: “As a player, we’ve got to rely on what higher people tell us to do really.

“The most important thing is once everyone is safe we can start properly after that.

“We’ve done as much as we can under the circumstances and I’m just itching to get back now.”

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